Photoprinting mask



30,1923. 7 G M DYE 1,472,640

PHOTOPRINTING MASK ,Filed June 19, 1919 2 sheetgs sheet 1 Oct. 30 1923'. 1,472,640 'G.IW.IDYE

PHOTOFRINTING MAS K Filed June 19, 1919 '2 Sheets-Sheet;

' character Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES GLEN M. DYE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PHOTOPRINTING MASK.

Application filed June 19,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLEN M. DYE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Photoprinting Masks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to photographic printing machines or devices and is directed to the provision of an improvedmask, an improved combined negative holder and paper guide and certain other associated devices. Generally "stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The mask and associated devices, while capable of more general use, are, nevertheless, especially designed and adapted for use in photographic printing machines of the disclosed and claimed in my pending application S. N. 246,117, filed May 22, 1918, and entitled Automatic numbering device for photoprinting machines, and certain of the parts illustrated in the drawings of this application are identical with those illustrated in the said earlier application.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View with some parts broken away, showing the improved mask, combined negative plate and paper guide and associated devices applied to the window-equipped frame of the printing machine;

Fig. 2 is a front edge elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; o

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 1 1 of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

A suitable light box 7 is indicated in part only in Fig. 3, and the top of this light box is in the form of an approximately 1919. Serial No. 305,372.

rectangular frame 8, preferably cast, and having a rectangular window or light passage in which is located a glass pane 9. For an important purpose, this pane 9 is yieldingly mounted on the ends of leaf springs 10 (see particularly Fig. 6) secured to the marginal portion of frame 8 by screws 11, or the like. a

This yielding mounting for the glass pane or plate permits the same to yield under pressure so as to thereby compensate for differences in thickness, for example, as be- I tween glass and film negatives, and is a feature disclosed but not claimed in my" earlier application.

To press the sensitized paper against the negative and the negative against or toward the glass plate 9 during the printing operation, and to close the light passage through the window opening, I have shown a platten or presser board which is made up of a main section 12 and a supplemental section 13. The platten sections 12 and 13 are pivoted, respectively, at 12 and 13 to a pedestal 14 that rises from the rear portion of the frame 8. Platten section 13 is subject to a coiled retracting spring 15 anchored to the frame 8, and one of the arms. Main platten 12 is connected to the top of pedestal 1 1 by a toggle 16, one member of which has an arm 16 connected to an operating rod 17 The exact manner in which these two plattens operate need not be here further considered, but is fully disclosed in my said prior application, wherein, the same cooperating printing device and other features are claimed.

The improved mask comprises four mar-- ginal strips 18, 19, 20 and 21, preferably of thin sheet metal, such as thin spring steel. These four mask strips are in rectangular arrangement over the glass pane 9 and parallel members are laterally spaced and connected in pairs with the members of the pairs mounted for simultaneous or independent lateral adjustments. To eifect this mounting, I preferably provide two guide rods 22 and 23 arranged at a right angle, one'to the other. As shown, the said rods 22 and 23, at the lower right hand corner of the frame 8, slide through guide lugs 24 of a small corner bracket 25, rigidly secured to said frame 8 by screws, or otherwise. At

their other ends, the guide rods 22 and 23- slide through guide hearings in. the form of posts 26, the lower ends of which are swiveled at 26 to two diagrammatically op posite corners of the frame 8. Set screws 27 are applied to the tops of bearing lugs 24 so as to secure the rods 22 and 23 in different adjustments.

The two forwardly and rearwardly eX- tended mask strips 19 and are applied to guide rod 22, while the two laterally eX- tended mask strips 18 and 21 are applied to guide rod 28. Preferably, and as shown, mask strips 18 and 19 are rigidly but detachably secured to the guide rods 28 and 22 by pins 28. Mask strips 20 and 21 are slidably secured, respectively, on guide rods 22 and 23, preferably by the following means. In their under edges, said guide rods 22 and are formed with lug notches 29. Mask strips 20 and 21 are provided with head portions including laterally spaced sleeve-like lugs 80 through which the respective guide rods are passed. To the heads of said mask strips 20 and 21 are applied thin spring metal latch pieces 31 having upturned lock lips 32 (see particularly Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) that are engageable with the lock notches 29 of the respective guide rods, but adapted to be disengaged by pressing downward on the free outwardly projecting portions of the said latch plates 31.

By the above arrangement it is evident that mask strip 20 may be adjusted in r spect to mask strip 19 by sliding the same on guide rod 22 while said guide rod and mask strip 19 remain stationary. It is also evident that mask strip 21 may be likewise adjusted in respect to mask strip 18 by sliding the same on guide rod 23 while said rod and plate 18 remain stationary. It is further evident and highly important to note, however, that by endwise adjustment of guide rod 22, mask strips 19 and 20 may be simultaneously adjusted transversely of the frame 8 without changing their relative adustment, or otherwise stated, without changing the distance between the said two strips 19 and 20, and a similar statement is equally obvious in respect to simultaneous adjustments of the parallel mask strips 18 and 21. Thus, it is possible, at will, to shift the position of the light passage through the mask, either transversely, or in a forward or rearward direction, without changing the dimensions thereof, or when desired, the dimensions and position of the light passage may be varied, at will. So far as I am aware, no mask heretofore pro duced is capable of the above noted several adjustn'ients. Such adjustments are obviously important.

For placing the negative in proper position and for properly positioning the sensi tive paper in respect thereto, I provide a so-called combined negative clamp and paper guide that is adapted to hold the negative and position the paper in definite 1 ,avaeao position, irrespective of the mask and the adjustments of the mask strips. This combined clamp and guide, as preferably constructed, comprises a clamping bar 33, which, near one end, has forwardly projecting lugs 3 1 pivoted by a rod 35 to lugs 36 on a plate-like extension 3? of bracket 25. This plate-like portion 37 of the bracket is raised above the frame 8, so that mask strips 18 and 19 may slide thereunder. A

torsion spring 38 applied on hinge rod reacts against plate 37 and against bar 33 with a force that yieldingly presses the free front edge of said clamping bar downward or toward the glass pane 9. Near its l'iinged end, clamping bar has a forwardlyprojetted arm 39, by means of which, it may be raised, at will, against the tension of spring 38. This arm 39 has a paper stop or guiding lug 40 that cooperates with the free rear edge of bar 33 to position the sensitive paper always at a predetermined definite position, irrespective of adjustments of the mask}. The negative is adapted to have its edge clamped under the free rear edge of clam, ing bar If the mask strip 18 happens to be under the clamping bar 83, the negative will be pressed against the same, but if not, the negative will be pressed directly against the glass pane 9 by said clamping bar. lVhile the negative clamping device is structurally independent of the mask it co-operates therewith functionally and also holds the negative and positions the paper where the mask strips can be brought into proper relation thereto. While thus co-operating with the mask strips it can also be used if the mask strips are not used.

The transverse mask strips 18 and 21 are much longer than the mask strips 19 and 20, and hence, the former are shown as arranged to work under a slightly raised guide strip 41 secured at its ends to the left hand side of the frame 8.

Inasmuch as the guide rod bearings 26 are swiveled to the frame 8, it is; a easy matter, when the guide rods 22 ant 23 are slid out of guide lugs 24, to turn the re (212" l ends of said rods outward until the ends c. the attached mask strips are moved to position where they will clear said guide rods 2% and then slide said guide rods out of the swiveled bearings 26, carrying with them their attached mask strips.

As already stated, one edge of the negative may be clamped under the clamping bar 33 and it will be understoodthat this negative will be held in position, while several, in fact, any desired number of prints are being taken on sensitized paper positioned by placing one edge thereof against the rear edge of said bar and the other edge thereof against the stop surface 4-0 of the combined clamp and guide.

\Vhen the two-part platten is forced down invention herein disclosed is capable of modification of the details of construction and relative parts, all within the scope of the invention herein claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a photoprinting machine, the combination with a frame, having a transparent plate therein for affording a light passage, of a combined negative clamp and paper guide occupying a definite position in respect to said frame,-and a mask made up of pairs of marginal mask strips that are adjustable over said transparent plate and in respect to said combined clamp and guide,

certain of said mask strips being movable under the same, and means whereby, at will, the laterally spaced mask strips of said pairs may be adjusted, the one in respect to the other, or may be simultaneously adjusted without changing the distance between the two.

'2. In a photoprinting machine, the combination with a frame having a transparent plate affording a light passage, of a combined negative clamp and paper guide 0ccupying a definite position in respect to said frame, and a mask comprising four marginal mask strips in rectangular arrangement, the said mask strips being all independently adjustable, the one in respect to the other and in respect to said combined clamp and guide.

3. In a photoprinting machine, the combi nation with a frame having a transparent plate affording a light passage, of a combined negative clamp and paper guide occupying a definite position in respect to said frame, a mask comprising four marginal mask strips in rectangular arrangement, the said mask strips being all independently adjustable, the one in respect to the other and in respect to said combined clamp and guide, and certain of said mask strips being adjustable under said combined clamp and guide.

4. In a photoprinting machine, the combination with a frame having a transparent plate affording a light passage, of a combined negative clamp and paper guide 00-.

cupying a definite position in respect to said frame, a mask comprising four marginal mask strips in rectangular arrangement, the said mask strips being all independently adjustable, the one in respect to the other and in respect to said combined clamp and guide, and certain of said mask strips being adjustable under said combined clamp and guide, the said combined clamp and guide being hinged and having means applied thereto yieldingly pressing the same toward said transparent plate. 7

5. A printing mask comprising the one approximately at a right angle to the other, said rods being endwise adjustable, and four mask strips connected in pairs to said therewith.

6. A printing mask comprising guide rods, the one approximately at a right angle to guide rods and adjustable the other, said rods being endwise adjust able, and four mask strips connected in pairs to said guide rods and adjustable therewith,

at least one mask strip on each guide rod beingadjustable thereon to vary the distance between the same and the other mask strip of the said rod.

7. A printing mask comprising guide rods, the one approximately at a right angle to the other, said rods being endwise adjustable, four mask strips connected in pairs to said guide rods and adjustable therewith, at least one mask strip on each guide rod being adjustable thereon to vary the distance between the same and the other mask strip of said rod, and lock devices for securing said rods in different adjustments and for securing the relatively adjustable mask strips in different adjustments on said rods.

8. A printing mask comprising guide rods, the one approximately .at'a right angle to the other, said rods being endwise adjustable, and four mask strips connected in pairs to said guide rods and adjustable therewith, one mask strip on each rod being rigidly secured thereto and the other mask strip on each rod being relatively adjustable thereon.

9. A printing mask comprising guide rods, the one approximately at a right angle to the other, said rods being endwise adjustable, and four mask strips connected in pairs to said guide rods and adjustable therewith, and a combined. negative clamp and paper guide having two longitudinal edges with which the edges of the paper contact located over certain of said adjustable mask strips, the longitudinal edges of underlying mask strips being relatively adjustable toward and from said edges of the combined clamp and guide and movable under the same.

10. The combination with a frame having an independent plate affording a light passage, of bearings on said frame, one of which is swiveled, a guide rod slidable through said bearings, and mask strips applied to said guide rod, said guide rod when slid out of its relatively fixed bearing, being movable to a position for release, by oscillatory movement of its swiveled guide.

11. The combination with a frame having a transparent plate affording a light passage, of bearings on said frame, uide rods movable endwise through their earings on said frame and provided with longitudinally guide rods,

Ill).

spaced notches, and an adjustable mask including mask strips applied to said guide rods, certain of said mask strips beingslidable on said rods and having spring pressed latches and lugs engageable with lock notches of the respective rods.

12. A. device of the class described having in combination, a frame, a transparent plate therein constituting a light opening, means for holding a negative and for positioning a piece of print paper in a certain position above said plate, and a plurality oi means adjustable toward and from said first men iioned means adapted to mask the four edges oi" said negative so held, so that only a portion thereof will be printed on said paper.

A photoprinting device having in com liination, a frame, a transparent plate therein constituting a light opening, a mask strip adjustable on said plate and a combined negative clamp and paper guide above said plate adapted to clamp the negative against the mask strip.

i i. A photoprinting device having in combination masking means adjustable to give a lixed exposure space in different positions and a combined negative clamp and paper guide cooperating with said means, the said. means being adjustable to vary the posi-- tion of the exposure space independently of? said clamp and guide.

15. A photoprinting device having in combination, masking means adjustable to give a fixed exposure space in different positions and a combined negative clamp and paper giiiide having longitudinal gauging edges, the said means being adjustable to vary the position of the exposure space independently of the said clamp and guide but maintaining the same relation thereof to the edges to said clamp and guide.

.1 (5. A pliotoprinting device having in combination means for masking the tour edges of a negative and a combined negative holder and paper guide in relation to which said means are independently adjustable.

ii'. A. photoprinting device having in comlJiIlitiLiOIl, a combined negative clamp and 1 ,avaeao paper guide, having an edge against which the paper is positioned, a mask strip having a longitudinal edge parallel to said edge, said strip and its longitudinal edge being movable under said clamp and guide whereby the negative will be clamped between the strip and said guide.

18. A photoprinting device having in com bination, a frame, and a transparent plate therein constituting a light opening, a pair of spaced parallel mask strips above said plate, means for simultaneously adjusting said strips and a combined negative clamp and paper guide laterally and longitudinally fixed in relation to said frame beneath which one of said strips is movable.

19. A photoprinting device having .in combination two pairs of parallel spaced mask strips, means for moving one of said pairs without changing the distance between the strips thereof, said pairs being relatively movable in directions at an angle to each other.

20. The structure set forth in claim 19, the strips of each pair also being relatively adjustable.

21. A photoprinting device having in combination two pairs of parallel spaced mask strips, one pair extending at right angles to the other pair, means to which one pair is attached and means movable at right angles to said means to which the other pair is attached.

A photoprinting device having in combination, two pairs of spaced parallel mask strips, said pairs being simultaneously mov able in directions at right angles to each other and a combined negative clamp and pa er guide having edges extending at right angles parallel to said strips, in relation to which said'strips are movable and under which one of each pair of strips may be moved.

.ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GLEN M. DYE.

Wi tnesses:

CLARA Die-M a REST, tension (l. ZA'UMANN. 

